https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=568-124
A friend in Peace Corps Suriname is doing a cool playground project. If you've got only 20 bucks to spare then make a small donation and support a good cause.
--Chris
Monday, March 21, 2011
The Saramaccan Kid
"He doesn't need help, he's a Saramaccan kid!"--Kwami
Well, I guess I've finally been culturally accepted. Out in the woods, walking across some logs which were suspended like a makeshift bridge over a creek, my counterpart told another Saramaccan man not to help me cross, I could do it myself. And all the practicing of balancing myself on the sides of canoes finally paid off and I crossed several logs during the our 7 hour trek without any assistance. It was quite an interesting trek out into the forest this time around. Recently, the nature trail has been pretty lively and I've seen a lot of animals and tracks out on the path. This time around, I saw a long, black Yellow-bellied keel snake, an armadillo, spotted the scent of a howler monkey and the tracks of some deer--both of which we attempted to track, and came across a potential meal when we saw a tasty local, black bird resting on a tree branch 30 yards ahead of us. There's talk in the village of a 2 to 3 day trek through the jungle with the men before I leave Suriname.
My time here in Suriname is beginning to come to an end. As of Tuesday, I will have exactly 5 months left before I leave Gunzi. Some of my fellow Peace Corps volunteers will be leaving two to three months before I do. As my time comes to a close I am trying to wrap up a few things that have been started--a trash management project, distributing condoms to the boatmen, computer lessons, the radio program and painting the last World map at the Tutubuka school. But most importantly I am trying to enjoy my remaining time here in Suriname.
Since returning from Trinidad, things have been going pretty slow. I hung out with two tourists who I met at the airport in Trinidad and wanted to come visit the interior. Since they left, I've been listening to a lot of Kings of Leon and watched Seinfeld season 6 over the course of 3 nights.
Soon, I will finally be getting some visitors to Suriname. A friend I made in Trinidad will be coming to visit me in early April and then my mom will be visiting in late April-early May. My village is pretty excited to meet mom and is already lecturing me about keeping the area around my house clean.
This week I go into the city for my last Peace Corps conference--the Close of Service. Although I'm going to miss Suriname, I'm excited to be moving forward, travelling after Peace Corps and going back to family and friends in the States.
Well, I guess I've finally been culturally accepted. Out in the woods, walking across some logs which were suspended like a makeshift bridge over a creek, my counterpart told another Saramaccan man not to help me cross, I could do it myself. And all the practicing of balancing myself on the sides of canoes finally paid off and I crossed several logs during the our 7 hour trek without any assistance. It was quite an interesting trek out into the forest this time around. Recently, the nature trail has been pretty lively and I've seen a lot of animals and tracks out on the path. This time around, I saw a long, black Yellow-bellied keel snake, an armadillo, spotted the scent of a howler monkey and the tracks of some deer--both of which we attempted to track, and came across a potential meal when we saw a tasty local, black bird resting on a tree branch 30 yards ahead of us. There's talk in the village of a 2 to 3 day trek through the jungle with the men before I leave Suriname.
My time here in Suriname is beginning to come to an end. As of Tuesday, I will have exactly 5 months left before I leave Gunzi. Some of my fellow Peace Corps volunteers will be leaving two to three months before I do. As my time comes to a close I am trying to wrap up a few things that have been started--a trash management project, distributing condoms to the boatmen, computer lessons, the radio program and painting the last World map at the Tutubuka school. But most importantly I am trying to enjoy my remaining time here in Suriname.
Since returning from Trinidad, things have been going pretty slow. I hung out with two tourists who I met at the airport in Trinidad and wanted to come visit the interior. Since they left, I've been listening to a lot of Kings of Leon and watched Seinfeld season 6 over the course of 3 nights.
Soon, I will finally be getting some visitors to Suriname. A friend I made in Trinidad will be coming to visit me in early April and then my mom will be visiting in late April-early May. My village is pretty excited to meet mom and is already lecturing me about keeping the area around my house clean.
This week I go into the city for my last Peace Corps conference--the Close of Service. Although I'm going to miss Suriname, I'm excited to be moving forward, travelling after Peace Corps and going back to family and friends in the States.
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